How to change or cancel an AAdvantage award trip

How do you change an AAdvantage award trip online?

American lets you change an eligible trip online in a few steps. [4] You need the six-character confirmation code from the booking email to pull up the trip, then you select “Change trip” and follow the prompts. [4] When the change is complete, American sends an email with the information you need, including the new ticket number. [4]

Before and after ticketing. Before an award is ticketed, you can change or cancel the reservation at no charge unless American states otherwise. [6] Once the original ticket has been issued, a change or cancellation may carry additional miles or fees for each ticket, due at the time the ticket is reissued, and the required miles and fees can change with or without notice. [6]

Miles and taxes on a change. The miles come back to the original AAdvantage account, and the miles for the replacement trip are deducted from the account used for the original booking, even if the amount is the same. [4] A difference in taxes may still be payable, and any amount owed back is refunded to the card used for the original booking. [4] American asks you to allow up to 72 hours for the reinstatement to be processed, and the account balance updates once it is. [4] A ticketed award must be completed within one year of the ticketing date unless otherwise noted. [6]

How do you cancel an award trip and get the miles back?

You can cancel a trip on aa.com at any time. [4] American reinstates the miles and refunds eligible taxes and fees at no charge up to one year from the date the ticket was purchased, as long as the cancellation happens before the first flight departs. [4] For a wholly unused award, miles are reinstated when the reservation is cancelled before departure and the ticket has not expired. [6]

What is not refunded. Taxes and fees are refunded in full except sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes, taxes American must pay whether or not you travel, and trips that have already started. [4] Some countries set different refund rules, and American follows those local rules. [4] Expired tickets are not reinstated, and partially used awards are not reinstated either. [6] If a cancellation is made online, the miles are reinstated and the refund requested automatically in most cases. [4]

When to call instead. Reservations handles reinstatement for trips that have already started, trips that involve travel on partner airlines, and trips that were changed because of an uncontrollable event since the ticket was issued. [4]

What happens on the day of travel?

All travel connected with the AAdvantage programme, including flight awards, complimentary upgrades, Instant Upgrades and systemwide upgrades, is subject to the tariffs, contract of carriage, ticket terms and re-accommodation policies of the carrier operating the flight. [6] No AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points are awarded for cancelled flights or when a passenger is accommodated on another airline. [6] For trips that have already started, American directs members to Reservations rather than the online change tool. [4]

Upgrades follow the booking. If you received an upgrade and then move the upgraded flight to a different flight, American will try to request the same upgrade on the new flight but cannot guarantee that it will be granted. [6] If a confirmed complimentary upgrade is not available, the member is added to the Airport Upgrade Standby List at check-in. [6]

Exceptions and limits

• Cash and miles bookings. Reservations paid partly with cash and partly with miles are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges; to make a change, cancel the trip and make a new reservation. [4]
• Mileage upgrade awards. Changes to requested or confirmed mileage upgrade awards were accepted until 11:59 p.m. CT on 11 August 2025, and from midnight CT on 12 August 2025 changes can no longer be made to them. [4] Miles can be reinstated at no charge up to one year after the ticket was bought if the award is cancelled before the first flight departs, but co-payments are non-refundable and a ticket upgraded with a mileage upgrade award keeps all the fare rules and restrictions of the original purchased fare. [4]
• Only eligible trips. American describes the online route as applying to an eligible trip, so the booking itself decides whether the self-service change can be made. [4]
• Amounts can move. Required miles and fees for award changes are subject to change with or without notice. [6]

Frequently asked questions

Do AAdvantage award tickets have change fees?

Award tickets can be changed without change fees, but you may have to pay the difference. [4]

How long do I have to cancel an AAdvantage award and get the miles back?

You can cancel up to one year from the date you purchased the ticket, provided you cancel before the first flight departs, and American reinstates the miles and refunds eligible taxes and fees at no charge. [4]

Are miles reinstated for a partially used award ticket?

No. Expired tickets are not reinstated and partially used awards are not reinstated. [6]

Can I change a cash and miles booking?

No. Cash and miles bookings are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges; you cancel the trip and make a new reservation. [4]

What is the Airport Upgrade Standby List?

It is the list a member joins at check-in when a confirmed complimentary upgrade is not available. [6]

Related pages

Programme: AAdvantage. Guides: AAdvantage fees, AAdvantage status benefits. Glossary: same-day departure rule, all terms.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers AAdvantage bookings on American Airlines only; the change and refund policies of other airlines, including one world partners, are not covered here.

1. American Airlines: using miles for travel, checked 18 October 2026
2. AAdvantage terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026